Christopher Johnson McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, “Master of his own destiny”. He was an intelligent young man who presented himself as alone but in reality he was never alone. However, he believed it was better to live alone, with nature, so he ventured across the western United States before venturing unprepared into the Alaskan wilderness, where he is dead. Some may say he was naive to go on such a mission without the proper food and equipment, but he lived life on his own terms and during his journey he met three people: Jan Burres, Ronald Franz and Wayne Westerberg. McCandless befriended these people, it is believed he made such a strong impression on them that their connection left them with strange feelings after learning of McCandless' death. In the summer of 1990, while searching for edible berries on the highway, McCandless came across a couple, Jan Burres and Bob, who picked up McCandless and took care of him as if he were their own. . Very quickly, the metaphor became literal. Apparently, Jan Burres had a son who looked a lot like McCandless, who decided to live alone with nature, free from society. Burres attempted to mature McCandless by warning him of the dangers of his intentions; which was probably his attempt to keep McCandless as his own. Burres later admitted to McCandless that he reminded him of his son, which is why McCandless left a strong impression on Jan Burres. Some believe that the affair with Walter, McCandless's father, is what drove McCandless on his journey into the wilderness, but during his journey he met a man who represented a father figure but was the opposite of his real father. That man was grain elevator operator Wayne Westerberg. Westerberg gave McCa... middle of paper ... because he left a strong impression, but perhaps because they are mourning the loss of a friend who had been advised not to leave in nature. Krakauer may have included these characters in Into the Wild to show readers how McCandless had the opportunity to survive and the opportunity to start again, but his desire to live free from society, alone and with nature overcame his reason to stay with people. who took care of him. Considering these points, it seems that McCandless really left a strong impression on each of these people; all in a profound and different way. Although Jan Burres, Ronald Franz, and Wayne Westerberg only spent a limited amount of time with McCandless, it was evident that they all felt a connection to this intelligent young hitchhiker. He inspired them, leaving them with his interesting personality and different outlook on life..